Adopt-a-Village in Guatemala

AAV's mountain retreat offers unique adventures

Preparing for a visit from our child sponsors always creates a flurry of excitement at the Mayan Center—laying in food and water, sweeping out the cobwebs from the volunteer cabin, making a list of the tasks at hand, planning trips to visit the children.

Last month, Gary Owen, sponsor of two children, made the trip with his good friend, Roy Krausen.  Our visitors, both from California, have always enjoyed traveling to places off the beaten track where they can immerse themselves with a different culture and authentic adventures. We were delighted when they offered to volunteer their valuable construction skills in order to complete the kitchen at the new Nutrition Center.

Gary had learned about Adopt-a-Village five years ago while on a previous trip to Guatemala; this current trip would be his third time to volunteer for Adopt-a-Village.  The two friends spent 10 days building shelving, counter-tops, and roof-beam supports, as well as installing a plywood floor.  Apart from work, they hiked through a magnificent rainforest where the endangered Resplendent Quetzal nests, viewed the water-holes built for the wild animals during dry season, enjoyed a swim at Lake Maxbal, the pristine limestone-sink lake near

Volunteer Gary Owen and Pascual Domingo

the school’s property, and learned about edible rainforest plants, like momon, (so called by the Maya) a wild herbaceous perennial plant. (The crunchy, tangy stalk-like vegetable, tasting like a mix of celery and ginger, is added to soups, scrambled eggs, and stir-fries at the school kitchen).

We have to think that by making this bone-jarring trip through rugged mountain terrain three times indicates that time spent with the Maya at our rainforest retreat is definitely worthwhile!   Perhaps Gary’s friend, Roy, echoes his thoughts when he says, “… if we accomplished just a little bit at the school, it pales to the great experience and fun of working there.”  Giving back, having fun—a great combination for a great vacation!

We welcome volunteers with skills in sustainable gardening, nutrition, carpentry, mechanics, teaching, and more.  Contact us at guatvillage@aol.com.

Stephen Lowery, third-year medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine  has volunteered to teach at the Mayan Center for Education and Training this month.

Stephen began volunteering in Guatemala in 2008, returning in 2010 to study the effects of chronic malnutrition on childhood development at Las Obras Sociales de Hermano Pedro Hospital.  He is currently offering his time at a rural clinic outside Quetzaltenango with the Primeros Pasos, an organization committed to reducing malnutrition among communities of the Palajunoj valley.

Adopt-a-Village is also strongly committed to combating malnutrition in the northwestern region of Guatemala, and provides course work in bio-intensive sustainable gardening both at the center and in outlying villages. One of Stephen’s primary interests is in studying how malnutrition affects the neurological development of a child—thus his classes with our students will tie directly to our curriculum.  It is well know that tens of thousands of Mayan children are stunted both physically and mentally due to the effects of malnutrition.  Stephen’s insights will be an invaluable addition to the students’ knowledge.